Measure seeks to bolster cybersecurity education efforts through $10M pilot program

U.S. Reps. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) and Jim Langevin (D-RI) have reintroduced legislation to form a $10 million Department of Education pilot program to strengthen cybersecurity education initiatives.

Specifically, the Cybersecurity Skills Integration Act would award competitive grants to career and technical education programs integrating cybersecurity into their curricula.

“Our society is increasingly reliant on cyber technologies for our most critical infrastructure,” Thompson, who joins Langevin as co-chair of the Career and Technical Education Caucus and serves as a senior member on the House Committee of Education and Labor, said. “As bad actors increase cyber-attacks, we must ensure we are protecting our most sensitive data.”

Thompson said the bill empowers the next generation of learners to have the most sophisticated and comprehensive education to better protect essential systems and assets.

“Protecting our critical infrastructure from malicious hackers is a top national security priority, but we need a workforce equipped with the proper skills to do it,” Langevin, a senior member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, said. “Now is the time to double down on our investments in CTE and cybersecurity education so that we can develop the critical infrastructure workforce needed to meet the challenges of the 21st century.”

Another bill provision is a requirement the Department of Education coordinates with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as well as the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) when awarding grants.